History of Kauai Lomilomi Massage

When the European explorers first arrived in Kauai, Hawaii they were impressed by Kauai’s people easy-going attitude and relxed manner. Upon closer observation they learned that Kauaians’ attributed their relaxed outlook to the practice of a special Kauai massage known as “lomilomi, the Hawaiian word for massage. Kauai massage aka “Lomilomi” was a commonly utilized touch therapy used to treat illness and injury and to achieve emotional stability and spiritual balance.

Originally the term lomilomi meant the servant who was in charge of collecting and disposing of the spittle, urine and excrement of the ali’i or king, such as King Kaumualii of Kauai. The lomilomi massaged the abdomen of ali’i to help empty the bowels. By the time “haoles” arrived, the word had come to mean massage in general. A common person who practiced massage was called kanaka lomilomi (massage person), while kahuna lomilomi referred to a priest who specialized in healing massage with reverent touch and spiritual focus. Other relevant terms were: iwikuamo’o, a servant who massaged the back of the chief with his feet; and hamohamo, meaning to rub or stroke gently.

Lomilomi massage was widely used in every Kauaian’s daily life. They learned how to massage from an early age. Children were often seen treading upon the backs of adults, and massage was done routinely between family members to treat minor injuries and illnesses. Mothers massaged their babies to shape their bodies into desired formations. Particular attention to molding the shape of the infant’s head. Specific shapes were considered standards of beauty, such as rounded heads in Ka’u and on Kaua’i. A Hawaiian’s place of birth could often be determined by the shape of his head. The buttocks and genitalia of infants were also molded with massage to conform to ideals of attractiveness.

Serious illnesses and injuries were treated with lomilomi massage by the na kahuna lomilomi. The kahuna lomilomi believed that physical illness was the result of mental disturbance, suppressed emotion or spiritual disharmony, from negative thoughts or offensive actions against others. A traditional Kauai massage healing session began with a thorough investigation into the nature and origin of the dysfunction. If a condition was determined to have originated from negative interactions between people, those involved would be guided through ho’oponopono, the Hawaiian method of mediation or conflict resolution. Confession, apology, contrition and above all, prayer were essential to the healing. Once the cause of the injury, pain, or discomfort was identified, the treatment would often begin with sweating in a steam hut; then heated stones or herbal poultices, wrapped in ti leaves, were applied to affected areas. Instead of a one treatment fits all routine, na kahuna lomilomi used an individualized approach of applying lomilomi massage strokes specific to each individual’s condition. Oil was not commonly used as a general lubricant. Coconut oil, kukui oil or sea water would be used for specific healing purposes. The focus of a session was often opu huli, literally “turn over the stomach.” The abdomen was thought to be a person’s physical and spiritual center, and therefore treating this area was crucial to healing both body and spirit. Special foods were often used before and after the massage to facilitate healing.

Kauai’s early missionaries were astonished by the accuracy of the na kahuna lomilomi and the other Kauai healers in their diagnoses and the effectiveness of their treatment of illness, injury, and mending bone fractures. Skeletal remains have revealed that Hawaiian healers had great skill at setting broken bones. Healed fractures were remarkably small, compact and well-formed, with good alignment of the broken parts. The kahuna ha’iha’I, a specialist in bone-setting, would often combine efforts with a kahuna lomilomi or kahuna la’au lapa’au (herbal doctor) to treat fractures. However, the missionaries regarded Hawaiians as heathens and considered their healing arts to be crude, unholy and unscientific. As the western religion and European cultures infiltrated Kauai, native rituals and customs were discouraged until finally completely outlawed in 1893.

G Harold is webmaster for touchingheaven.net touchingheaven.net and Avril Lawrence is the principal massage therapist at Touching Heaven Professional Massage Studio in Kapaa, Kauai and a Lomilomi massage practitioner.

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Tags: cialis, massage, massage therapist